Our Interdisciplinary Perspective
Figure 1. Just as five different artists can paint the same object yet produce five remarkably unique artworks, this series of images demonstrates how the same photograph (A) can be transformed into distinctly different styles: B) The Shipwreck of the Minotaur by J.M.W. Turner, 1805, C) The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, 1889, D) Der Schrei by Edvard Munch, 1893, E) Femme nue assise by Pablo Picasso, 1910, F) Composition VII by Wassily Kandinsky, 1913. Each panel combines the original photographic content of the Neckarfront in Tübingen, Germany, with the style “fingerprint” of the respective painting. Adapted from [Gatys LA, Ecker AS, Bethge M (2015). A Neural Algorithm of Artistic Style]
Our Approach
Just as five different artists can paint the same object yet produce five remarkably unique artworks (Figure 1), a team of researchers from varied academic backgrounds can see the same scientific problem through entirely different lenses—leading to new ideas, methods, and breakthroughs.
Take mechanical engineering, for example. Mechanical engineers are trained to analyze machines, focusing on how mechanisms operate, how energy is converted into work, and how to optimize a system’s performance. Proteins, in a very real sense, are tiny biological machines. Pumps, transporters, and motor proteins each have specialized moving parts and thermodynamic cycles—just like the macro-scale machines we use every day.
When a protein malfunctions due to disease-related mutations or external factors, mechanical engineering principles can help us pinpoint where and how this molecular “machine” has broken down. By identifying which thermodynamic state to stabilize or which mechanical step to inhibit or enhance, we can propose novel drug targets and therapeutic strategies—much like designing a specialized part that halts, optimizes, or repairs a larger machine to restore proper function or prevent undesired operation.
At the Gur Biomolecular Engineering Lab, we apply this cross-disciplinary perspective and bring together scientists from natural, life, and applied sciences. Together, we explore protein mechanisms at an atomic resolution, predict the impact of mutations, and develop innovative ways to regulate or even redesign protein functions. Our work is a testament to how the synergy of diverse fields—engineering, biology, chemistry, and more—can yield transformative solutions in biomedicine and biotechnology.
When unique viewpoints merge, new frontiers open. That’s why we believe that an interdisciplinary, diverse team is not just a strength but a necessity in tackling the complex challenges of modern science and healthcare.